Changeable sign



A. G. HELLER CHANGEABLE SIGN Oct. 19, 1937.

Filed Oct. 27, 1936 I ,l l $11120 .f El.

ALEXANDER 6. HEL/ El? INVENTOR BY 0. AT RNEY Patented oct-19, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE claims.

This invention relates to changeable signs.

'I'he objects of the invention are to provide a sign structure which maybe quickly and easily changed at any time to present different signcharacters, writing, or ilgures or in fact, any forms of representation,which will attract attention and hence have a true "sign" value andwhich with all these advantages will be of relatively low cost.

'I'he foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by novelfeatures of construction, combinations and relations of parts ashereinafter described and broadly claimed.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of this specificationillustrates certain practical and at present desirable forms of theinvention, but it should be understood that the structure may be modiedand changed in other ways, all within the true intent and broad scope ofthe claims.

Figure 1 is a broken face View partly in section of one of the signconstructions.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken cross sectional detail of the same.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view illustrating a modiilcation.

Figure 4 is a like view of a further modification.

Aits shown in the several views, changeable sign characters are formedin this invention by sign elements 'l finished diiferently on oppositesides and reversibly mounted in sockets 8 provided in a background orbase plate l.

In the first form of the invention, Figures 1 and 2, the sign elements 1are in the form of substantially spherical transparent balls and thediiferen ce in nish is effected by having coatings i covering portionsof these balls.) In this particular disclosure, the light reflectingsurfaces are faced to the interior so as to project reflected light outthrough the transparent balls and the outer surfaces of the coatings aredull and colored or finished to more or less match the backgroundsurface li. Consequently, with the uncovered sides turned outwardly, thesign elements will show bright and reilect light, and with the coveredsides faced outwardly, they will simply conform to or more or less matchthe background surface. Thus, by turning the bright sides outwardly orinwardly, as the case may be, the various sign elements may be "spottedto present diiferent designs and shapes.

In the several constructions illustrated, the sockets are in the form ofsubstantially circular 55 openings in the background member and the ballelements are held rotatably seated in said openings by a resilient backplate i2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the back plate i2 may be slidably supportedon screw studs i3 and be resiliently and adjustably pressed toward thefront plate 9 by springs i4 held by abutment nuts I5. The front orbackground forming member 9 is shown as carrying a rearwardly directedflange i6 covering the edge of the resilient back plate I2. Cushioningand non-scratching material such as l0 felt pad i1 may be interposedbetween the pressure plate I2 and the balls. The reflective coatings i0are shown as of somewhat greater than hemispherical extent, but it willbe appreciated that the amount of coverage will depend to an extent uponthe effects desired.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the ball elements 'l have oneflat face i8 covered by the coating material i0 and adapted to form aflush continuation of the background base when the element is turned tothe nonsign forming position shown at the right in this view..

The reversible sign forming members may be made in various shapes andsizes and as indicated in Figure 4, they may be light emitting in and ofthemselves. y In this particular view, the elements 'i are in the formof substantially spherical light globes containing illaments i9 havingexternal terminals 20, 2|, which in the active position, will engageterminal portions 22, 23 on the front and 30 back plates 9, l2respectively. In this construction, different lamps may be chosenaccording to position, to form a desired design and then be turned intheir sockets as necessary to connect them in or out of circuit. 35

In all the forms illustrated, the sign is entirely self-contained'andthere are no parts to take out or put ln, it being merely necessary topartially rotate the sign elements to produce the different desiredeifects. Additional effects may be at- 40 tained by providing openings24 through the holding socket formations 25 in the back plate.

I claim:

1. A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerouscircular openings, substantially spherical and substantially transparentsign elements having light reflective coatings over portions of the sameand faced inwardly to project reflected light outwardly through saidsubstantially spherical sign elements, said coat- 60 ings beingexteriorly finished to substantially match the background plate andmeans for cushioning and rotatably confining said substantiallyspherical elements in said substantially circular openings and enablingrotation of selected elements in any direction to change the appearanceoi.' the sign.

2. 'A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerouscircular openings, substantially spherical and substantially transparentsign elements having light reflective coatings over portions of the sameand faced inwardly to project reiiected light outwardly through saidsubstantially spherical sign elements, said coatings being exteriorlyfinished to substantially match the background plate, means forcushioning and rotatably confining said substantially spherical elementsin said substantially circular openings and enabling rotation ofselected elements in any direction to change the appearance of the sign;said means including a backing plate yieldingly held to said backgroundplate and having sockets to receive the back portions of saidsubstantially spherical elements and cushioning material in said socketsfor frictionally retaining said elements in various positions ofrotative adjustment.

3. A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerouscircular openings,r substantially spherical and substantiallytransparent sign elements having light reflective coatings over portionsof the same and faced inwardly to project reiiected light outwardlythrough said substantially spherical sign elements, said coatings beingexteriorly nished to substantially match the background plate, means forcushioning and rotatably confining said substantially spherlicalelements in said substantially circular openings and enabling rotationof selected elements in any direction to change the appearance of thesign, said means including a backing plate yieldingly held to saidbackground plate and having openings forming sockets for the backportions of said substantially spherical elements and exposing theelements reversely to the exposure at the front of the sign.

4. A changeable sign comprising abackground having numerousopenings,reversible sign forming elements seated in said openings; saidsign forming elements being finished on one side to more or less matchthe background and having a contrasting appearance at the opposite side,said members being in the form of electric light bulbs and electricalconnecting means by which reversal of said bulbs will effect thelighting and extinguishment of said electric light bulbs.

5. A changeable sign comprising a background having numerous openings,reversible sign forming elements seated in said openings, said signforming elements being nished on one side to more or less match thebackground and having a contrasting appearance at the opposite side,said members being substantially spherical electric lamp globes, theopenings in the background being substantially circular to rotatablyreceive the same and means for effecting individual circuit making andbreaking operations by rotative reversal of said lamp globes in saidopenings.

ALEXANDER GORDON HELLER.

